ATC gives IO last chance to arrest MQM founder, other leaders

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday once again rebuked the investigation officer (IO) tasked with the provocative speech case for having failed to arrest Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain, MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Rashid Godil and other absconding accused.

Reissuing non-bailable arrest warrants against the accused, the court ordered the IO to apprehend all the accused and produce them in court on December 26 — the next date of hearing.

The court declared that this was the IO's last chance to comply with its orders. 

The ATC concerned has been issuing non-bailable arrest warrants against Altaf Hussain, Dr Farooq Sattar and 20 other MQM leaders in provocative speech cases, including a speech made by the MQM founder on August 22.

The court, which is hearing around 27 cases registered on identical charges at different police stations of the city, extended the interim bail of Waseem Akhtar, Khawaja Izharul Hasan, Rauf Siddiqui and Qamr Mansoor.

Overcrowded jail

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar and leader Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan were present in the court.  

He appealed to the Karachiites and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to extend their support in his cleanliness drive. 

Waseem Akhtar, while talking to journalists outside the courtroom, said that some 6,000 under-trial prisoners were being kept at the central prison, which can only accommodate 2,500 inmates.

He demanded of the prime minister to announce a special package for Karachi so the problems could be solved.

He said that despite of shortage of funds and resources, the city government was committed to curb corruption at every level in the local government.